Chinese President Hu Jintao addresses the banquet for the celebration of the fifth anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, in Macao, south China, Dec. 19, 2004.

President Hu Jintao said in Macao Sunday that "one country, two systems" is the fundamental guarantee of Macao's sustained development and its long-term prosperity and stability.

He made the remarks at a dinner given in his honor by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government.

Hu said Macao's experience since its return to the motherland five years ago proved that the Macao people have the wisdom, ability and means to properly administrate, build and develop Macao.

Hu arrived here Sunday morning to attend a celebration gathering marking the 5th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the second-term government of the Macao SAR.

The president said, "We will continue to unswervingly implement the 'one Country, two systems' principle, unswervingly administrate the Macao SAR in accordance with the law by upholding the authority of the Basic Law, and unswervingly support the Macao SAR government in its efforts to develop the economy, improve people's livelihood and maintain stability, and unswervingly carryout the policy of 'Macao people governing Macao' with patriots playing the dominant role, practice a high degree of autonomy and achieve the broadest unity under the banner of loving the motherland and loving Macao."

Referring to the current situation of the country, Hu said, "This year, we have a fairly good harvest in agriculture. Profits of our industrial enterprises increased substantially. The total foreign trade volume and direct foreign investment is expected to top 1.1 trillion US dollars and 60 billion US dollars, respectively."

The president stressed that all these achievements are attributable to the concerted efforts of all Chinese people including compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao.

He said it is certain that the motherland's on-going reform will provide stronger impetus, greater opportunities and broader horizon for Macao's development.

He said that when the motherland succeeds, Macao is bound to prosper, adding, "We too have full confidence in Macao's future."

The president said he believes that, under the leadership of the Macao SAR government headed by Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Macao compatriots will carry forward the glorious tradition of loving the motherland and loving Macao, work as one to make every undertaking in Macao a success and add brilliant new pages to the history of the great practice of "one country, two systems."

Macao Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah expressed warm welcome to President Hu on behalf of the Macao SAR government.

He pledged to further promote Macao's development in all sectors step by step so as to live up to the expectations of the country, the nation and the people of Macao.

As one of China's two SARs, Macao's unprecedented economic prosperity is in sharp contrast with four consecutive years of negative growth before 1999 under the Portuguese rule.

Official statistics suggest that Macao's GDP grew 30 percent from 49 billion patacas (US$6.1 billion) in 1999 to 63.37 billion patacas (US$ 7.9 billion) last year, with the per capita GDP up by 24 percent from US$14,300 to US$17,800 in the same period.

Hu in close touch with Macao people

Amid his heavy schedule, President Hu launched a charm offensive by putting his best foot forward as "man of the people."

He worked to get close with ordinary people by visiting a local workers' children school and the family of Zheng Bingkun, a 53-year-old bus driver.

Even when he took a short tour of the city for a taste of its unique and strong European heritage, the Chinese leader impressed local residents and tourists with his friendly greetings and wide smiles.

During his visit to the St. Paul's Ruins, a magnificent stone facade and grand staircase left over from the St. Paul's Church, he walked down the long stairs to shake hands with local residents.

"We can feel his cordial and friendly attitude towards us," said a woman surnamed Chan.

Hu also visited the Museum of Macao, with a great number of collections showing how Eastern and Western cultures have lived side by side in Macao for centuries, and Monte Fort, built in 1617-26.

Before the sightseeing tour, President Hu also attended the completion ceremony of Sai Van Bridge, the city's third bridge linking the Macao Peninsula to the outlying Taipa Island. He cut the ribbon at the inauguration of the bridge.

The 2.2-kilometre-long bridge has been the largest public project since Macao returned to the motherland.

The cable-stayed bridge starts at the Sai Van Lake on the Macao Peninsula.

Designed with double deck carriageways, the bridge is the world's first pylon-type design bridge.

The bridge is designed with M-shaped archs, the initial of Macao.

Construction of the bridge started in 2002. The double-deck design allows six lanes in the upper layer and four lanes in the lower, which is shut down most days and opens only when a typhoon hits the city.

It has also left room for the installation of a light rail.